Just Another Crazy Day

“Bye, Hannah, see you next time,” my therapist called out as I left physical therapy.

I parked my wheelchair a few feet away from the door to check my phone. I wasn’t expecting any messages. Alarmingly enough, I had four text messages from my caregiver, Autumn, saying that the muffler needed repair. Apparently, she had called mom explaining that she was going to another town to drop off my orthotics while I was in therapy and heard explosive noises. My dad met her in the parking lot and determined it was a problem with the muffler. This is all while I am in therapy where she knows I don’t check my phone.

I get out of the green elevator into a sterile lobby. I’m in the lobby of a medical building with grey carpet and a surprising number of dental offices as well as a number of law offices.

Me: Are you okay?

Autumn: Yes, your parents were of ton of help. Can you Google mechanic shops around town?

I agreed.

Remember, I can’t call them because they would not understand my communication device over the phone. I’m not working with much, but I do find a nearby Midas. I happen to glance over to my left and there is a 90 year old woman on a gurney not doing too hot. Are you serious? Why is that woman in the lobby? This is a normal office building. What is going on?

When Autumn gets to me, she says, “Oh thank God the ambulance is not for you. With the day going the way it is, I would not have been surprised. And the blog is writing itself, isn’t it?”

“My thought exactly. By the way, there’s a woman in the lobby on a gurney, I don’t know why but it just fits the day. That is who the ambulance is for.”

“That’s the cherry on top,” Autumn said with a stunned look on her face.

We drove 10 minutes to the Midas. They were really nice guys, but they did not have the parts. Another location did have the parts which really was a blessing although that place was full of jerks. I went to see if Lyft or Uber had options for accessible vans. They did not which is more frustrating than I can express. Lyft and Uber… do better! Autumn had to pick up her little boy from school. It closed in an hour.

Her aunt who lives close by thankfully was home and could pick him up. I had a red velvet loaf and a caramel macchiato from the Starbucks in the Target for lunch. What a healthy day!

Her little boy came very confused why he was dropped off at Target.

“Mommy, why are we at Target?” The little guy asked.

“We had a long day because Hannah’s van broke down. Hannah bought you a treat. She got you a loaf from Starbucks.”

“Thanks.”

“Least I could do.”

The truth was I felt like crap about what happened. I respect the fact that my caregivers leave at a certain time. This had been utterly out of my control, but I still felt bad.

We finally got home!

“Go home,” I said to Autumn with enthusiasm.

“OK. Are you sure you don’t need to use the restroom?”

“Nope. See you in the morning,” I replied.

I was so tired from problem solving all day. I called Mom. We both knew this was going to be the blog post for the month.

 

This post is dedicated to Judy Heumann. She was a fierce disability rights advocate and one of my personal heroes.  

Three Speeches, One Great Day

             “Hey, H.T.,” Kevin said as he greeted me in the parking lot.

            Kevin, my mentor and friend, had asked me to speak at the elementary school he worked at. After the elementary school, we would speak to the middle school students, and then I would speak to future clergy who wanted to work with people who have special needs. I was as excited as a kid on Christmas morning. I live for days like these. I get to fulfill God’s purpose for my life.

            “So, first we have the kindergartners. We’ll spend about 20 minutes with them,” Kevin said.

            I was excited for their earnest questions and comments. I never leave a kindergarten class not been thoroughly entertained. This class did not disappoint.

            I ended the speech by saying, “If you see someone who is different, go up and talk to them. We like making new friends. I am so glad to be your friend now, and I would really love to answer any questions you have.”

            The questions began.

            “Do you have pets?” One little guy asked.

            “No.”

            “How fast does your wheelchair go?” Another child asked.

            “Seven miles per hour,” I responded.

            “Do you sleep in your wheelchair?” One kid asked. I get that question every time with kindergarteners.

            When the teacher made eye contact with Kevin and asked in a hushed tone when I was diagnosed with my disability, I interjected. I was more than capable of answering that question for myself. I typed out “lost oxygen at birth.” The teacher nodded and asked me not Kevin if we could talk about it. We certainly could!

            “So, when I was coming out of my mommy’s tummy, I didn’t have enough oxygen and my brain has an owie on it,” I stated.

            “Just take deep breaths,” one child suggested.

            I let out a laugh. Oh, how I love kids! And it’s a little too late for that!

            My presentation for the middle school students was on bullying. I talked about how I was ignored by most of the kids in middle school and high school. It hurts to this day. I definitely have a lot of scars on my heart from kids viewing me as invisible. Funny how I’m a 32 year old woman who is living her best life and it still hurts.

            Then, I had a presentation with future clergy. I told them about different experiences with clergy. Some priests get it right off the bat, some priests take a few months until they really understand that I don’t have a cognitive disability, and some priests never understand. Clergy are merely humans; they are not perfect. Last month, I talked about physical access to a specific church. I relayed that humiliating story to the students too because they need to know how critical accessibility is.

            All in all, I had a great day. I live for these days. Nothing fulfills my heart quite like speaking.

Carried Into a Church

            Wearing a dress that epitomized a little black dress, I looked at the church. It was completely inaccessible.

Julia, my caregiver said, “Hold on, I’ll be back with strong men.”

I don’t know where you think I’m going to go.

When the strong men came in the form of the groom’s friends, I was grateful because the January cold was not being kind to me. I was freezing!

“OK, we go through the entrance that could not be farther from where we are,” Julia said running down the stairs.

“Of course.”

Once inside, I saw the team of strong men.

They’ll do!

Guys who were friends of the groom walked down fifteen steps. They were in suits and quite aware that the wedding would be another 70 minutes. They were happy to have a distraction. I’m Catholic so I’m used to long weddings.

“Hi, Hannah! We’re happy to help,” one of the guys said.

That guy took the top half of my body; his arms through my arm pits and the other guy had his hands under my knees. The other two guys spotted. 10 years ago, I would have been over the moon to have had these guys carry me. However, at 32 years old, this is substantially less fun, and inaccessibility is a true burden instead of a fun adventure. The family of the bride left a manual wheelchair for me at the top of the steps. I was placed in the unfamiliar wheelchair without my communication device. I was ecstatic about the wedding however if this was my first encounter with a Catholic church, I would not have gone back. Why would I go back to a place where I wasn’t able to be physically comfortable?

Back to the wedding. The bride was my friend, Natalie. She is Julie’s twin. Go back to the November post if you want background on Natalie.

Of course, she looked like she walked off a runway. With a strapless fitted dress complimented by a huge bow in the back, she was the epitome of a stunning bride. After all the tragedy this family has endured, it was glorious to see them all smiling.

At the reception, I mingled with many of the guests. The groom’s mom, for example, knew my physical therapist of fifteen years through their book club. There were a bunch of people who I had that type of connection with.

During the speeches, the three siblings who were unfortunately watching from Heaven were mentioned several times. I had the honor of being mentioned in light of Natalie’s social calendar. She’s friends with everyone and she and I get together on a regular basis. Her dad pulled off the ultimate

At the reception with dad and daughter!

surprise by having two Broadway singers perform “For Good” from the musical Wicked. Not much can make my jaw drop but this did! I was truly gob stopped.  This was a night that Elmhurst would remember for a long time.

 

“Did you have fun tonight?” Natalie asked.

“Yes!”

“Thank you for coming especially with all the stuff at the church.”

“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

“Let’s get together after I get back from my honeymoon when we can actually talk.”

“Sounds perfect!”

It did sound perfect. I like when Natalie comes over just to talk. It’s beautiful and our friendship gets stronger every time we spend time together. That is why I go to these big events. It’s a culmination of all the small moments because I wouldn’t get carried into a church for just anybody.

Light

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, I went to church. As they lit the candle on the Advent wreath, I took in the lights and decorations inside my church. My heart felt a bit warmer. I looked at all the lights knowing that I have to be a light in this dark world. My first reaction is to be overwhelmed. Climate crisis, pandemics, war, sitting there I felt my chest tighten from wanting to do it all. At that moment, Father Sonny's words interrupted my thoughts. 

"Jesus came and saved us. We simply need to try to be like Him. That's it. We don't have to save the world. We simply have to be the light.”

It was as if Someone read my mind. Christ came down in human form because He knew He needed to be one of us for us to understand God. I know my readers are from diverse backgrounds, faiths, and belief systems. Light is the one common thread throughout the holidays. For instance, if you do a quick Google search on winter solstice, the sun is closest to the Earth at this time of year. I believe it but if the temperatures were a little warmer, that would be great. In Illinois, it is in the single digits so the sun can warm us up at any time now! Kwanza, Christmas, and Hannukah all revolve around the theme of light. 

With God's message to me, I decided to make chocolate chip cookies for the local fire department. That's how I spread a little more light into the world this holiday season. I can't fix the climate, can't help every refugee, can't stop the war, but I can bake cookies for the local firefighters. So, I did! And I felt like the world was a tenth of a millimeter better because I showed appreciation.

For the record, I’m not an inspiration for baking Toll House cookies. Don’t go there.

Readers, I can't believe we are ending another year. I have the blessing of spending the entire weekend with my family and then spending New Year's at my cabin in Wisconsin with my extended family. I couldn't ask for more. 

 

May We All Be the Light, 

Hannah! 

 

Let's Party!

My best friend, Julie passed away from Cystic Fibrosis in 2015. I have the privilege of keeping in touch with the family especially her twin, Natalie. I consider her one of my closest friends and I love her dearly.

In early November, her dad texted me and told me that we were throwing a surprise party for Natalie. No other woman in the world deserves a surprise party more than her. She’s been through so much that she deserves all the joy in the world.

I arrived at the party very early because I didn’t want to interfere with the surprise. Well, I got there way too early! The staff was still setting up 500+ balloons and the acrobat was getting her things out as

Why not have the birthday girl on my lap?

 

well. Her dad went all out. About an hour after I arrived (yeah, I was really early), the guests started to come into the rectangular room. It was at Stereo Club in downtown Chicago. They had a slideshow of pictures of Natalie and Julie because we know that Julie is with us in spirit.

When we knew Natalie was coming, everyone went quiet. I stood behind her family with her best friend from college. I was so excited to see her register that everyone from her life was there. That’s the magic of a surprise party. Everyone comes purely for you.

The look on her face was a combination of shock and utter disbelief.

“Hannah Thompson. Hi, you’re here!” Natalie said. 

 

 

She barely had time to process my presence when she saw that the whole club was full of people that loved her and her family. If you know that family, you’re blessed!

The whole night was crazy fun!

I’m glad I had that type of night because I tested positive for Covid five days later. I did not announce it on social media; I was busy sleeping and taking Dayquil. My disabilities DID NOT affect symptoms which I don’t take for granted. It has been 12 days after the first positive test; my symptoms are gone. I’m very safe to be around. I’m beyond sick of talking about Covid so please don’t e-mail me with concerns. I’m your happy, healthy Hannah and that is all that matters! I’ve been home for a long time…let’s party! Text me with an excuse to get out of the house!

Till Then,

Hannah!